QR Code Generator analyzed 2023 data from the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Centre to see which states were most at risk of financial losses to cybercrime.
“Cybercrime has become one of the most potent threats to the livelihoods of individuals and businesses due to how interconnected our modern world is,” said Marc Porcar, CEO, QR Code Generator. “Criminals have come up with many ways to ransom, extort, and steal by exploiting security vulnerabilities in digital systems and targeting the people using these systems.”
New Jersey is America’s most at-risk state for cyber offense-related losses. The Garden State loses the most to cybercrime at $36,004 per complaint filed with the FBI, 69.4% above the national average of $21,257. Overall, 12,253 cybercrime complaints were filed from New Jersey, with reported losses totaling $441 million.
Kansas is second for cybercrime vulnerability, with an average reported loss of $32,536 per complaint filed, 53.1% above the national average. In total, $94 million of losses were reported across 2,894 complaints.
Montana is third for average cyber felony losses, averaging $28,997 lost per complaint. Montana’s total reported losses came to $46 million, and 1,571 cybercrime complaints were filed.
California’s average loss of $27,947 per complaint is America’s fourth highest. The Golden State reported the nation’s highest overall losses to cyber offenses, at $2.2 billion, and America’s most complaints from a state, at 77,271. California’s average loss per complaint is 31.5% above the national average of $21,257.
New York is fifth for cybercrime vulnerability, with an average loss of $27,830 per complaint filed, 30.9% above the national average. Overall, 26,948 complaints were filed in New York, and cybercrime losses totaled $750 million.
Minnesota is the sixth most vulnerable state to cyber offenses, with an average loss of $27,514 per complaint filed, 29.4% above the average for all states of $21,157. Cyber felony losses reached $194 million across 7,049 complaints filed.
Hawaii is seventh for average cybercrime losses, with the average loss per complaint at $26,470, 24.5% more than the national average. The Aloha State reported $52 million in total losses to cyber felonies and 1,954 complaints.
An average loss per cybercrime complaint of $26,133 places Utah as the eighth most at-risk state for cybercrime losses. 5,061 complaints were filed from Utah, and cyber felony losses came to a total of $132 million. Utah’s average loss per complaint is 22.9% above the national average.
Massachusetts is ninth for cyber felony vulnerability, with an average loss of $23,791 per complaint filed, 11.9% above the national average. The Bay State’s losses to cyber offenses were $236 million overall, and complaints totaled 9,915.
Connecticut rounds out the top 10 states most vulnerable to cybercrime, with an average loss of $23,153 per complaint. This value is 8.9% above the average of $21,257. Overall, $120 million was lost to cyber offenses across 5,216 complaints.
“FBI data shows that reported cybercrime losses since 2022 have increased by 22%, and the total number of complaints increased by nearly 10%,” Porcar added. “This increased impact from cyber felonies urged us to look into which states were most affected, finding that New Jersey had the highest loss per complaint filed, and West Virginia the lowest.”
